Our Research

Planning is about understanding places and place making. This ensures that we can achieve the best social, economic and environmental outcomes. We offer a friendly and supportive environment for you to make the transition towards a career in:

planning

wider built environment professions

Through our high quality research and teaching we provide you with a complete planning education:

academic core knowledge

understanding

skills

This equips you to embark on your professional planning career. You will be able to apply your planning knowledge and deal with the rapidly changing context of real world planning and the problem solving this requires.

The course is a conversion degree so you do not need to have studied planning before. It is for anyone with an interest in planning - thinking about how people, places and the environment interact. The course attracts students from a range of backgrounds and nationalities.

We teach the course on our Newcastle campus. You can study full time over 9 months or part time over 21 months.

If you study full time you are usually expected to attend 12 hours of taught contact time per week. You will need to allow around 28 hours of independent study per week. Contact hours and independent study times will vary depending on modules.

Part time study consists of the same modules and options as the full time programme. If you study part time, we timetable teaching for day release (one full day per week).

The majority of the course consists of a series of compulsory modules. They will introduce you to the core values and principles of planning. You will build on these throughout the rest of your studies and professional life. The main focus of these modules is the UK system complemented by international examples.

You will also have a choice of optional modules. These help you to develop a specialisation in planning practice informed by the latest research.

We deliver knowledge and skills through a series of lecture-based modules in semester one and two. We also deliver teaching through:

workshops

seminars

tutorials

optional international field trips (depending on the module)

A sample of job titles our graduates now hold

Architect, Urban Designer, Planning Officer

A sample of employers our graduates now work for

CCDI Shanghai, MADE, Purcell LLP

Data based on responses from 105 UK, EU and International postgraduate leavers (2011/12, 2012/13) studying Architecture, Planning and Landscape. See more about what our graduates do.

This course has partial (spatial) accreditation from the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). The RTPI is the UK's leading planning body for spatial, sustainable and inclusive planning. It is the largest planning institute in Europe with over 23,000 members.

This is an exciting and demanding course that is ideal if you want to work in spatial planning from an international perspective. It helps you translate academic and professional knowledge, understanding and skills in urban planning into a context suitable for a globalised economy and rapidly urbanising world.

Depending on how you meet the EPSRC’s eligibility criteria, a full award covers tuition fees at the UK/EU rate for the duration of your PhD and an annual stipend £14,553 (2017/18). A partial award covers fees at the UK/EU rate only.

Depending on how you meet the EPSRC’s eligibility criteria, a full award covers tuition fees at the UK/EU rate for the duration of your PhD and an annual stipend £14,553 (2017/18). A partial award covers fees at the UK/EU rate only.

£56,244 in total (over 3 years). Funding covers the cost of annual fees at £4,250 and provides annual maintenance of £14,553 (2017/18 figure). UK applicants will be eligible for a full award paying tuition fees and maintenance. European Union applicants will be eligible for an award paying tuition fees only, except where UK residency has been established for more than 3 years.

Depending on how you meet the EPSRC’s eligibility criteria, a full award covers tuition fees at the UK/EU rate for the duration of your PhD and an annual stipend £14,296 (2016/17). A partial award covers fees at the UK/EU rate only.

The successful candidate will receive a generous studentship of £20,000 per annum for three years (tax-free). The student will also benefit from additional allowance for attendance at conferences and training workshops.

£56,244 in total (over 3 years). Funding covers the cost of fees and provides an annual maintenance of £14,553 (2017/18 figures). UK, EU and international applicants will be eligible for a full award paying tuition fees and maintenance.

100% of UK/EU tuition fees paid and an annual stipend of £14,553 (full award). Successful international candidates will be required to make up the difference between the UK/EU fees and international fees.

Depending on how you meet the EPSRC’s eligibility criteria, 100% tuition fees at the UK/EU rate for the duration of your PhD and an annual stipend £14,296 (2016/17). A partial award covers fees at the UK/EU rate only.

100% of UK/EU tuition fees paid and an annual stipend of £14,553 (full award). Successful international candidates will be required to make up the difference between the UK/EU fees and international fees.

Entry Requirements

A 2:2 honours degree. International students need a qualification equal to a 2:1 honours degree. Your degree can be in any subject, but preference is given to graduates of a related discipline such as:

planning

geography

urban studies

sociology

history

politics

economics

architecture

law

modern languages

Applicants who demonstrate significant knowledge and professional experience in UK town planning are welcome. We will consider your application if you have lower or non-standard qualifications and demonstrate aptitude for further study.

International Students

To study this course you need to meet our Band 4 English Language requirements:

Direct Entry: IELTS 6.5 overall (with 6.5 in writing and a minimum of 5.5 in all other sub-skills).

If you have lower English Language scores, you may be accepted onto a pre-sessional English course.